Shunglu committee gets PMO mandate to probe CWG corruption

New Delhi: The Prime Minister’s Office on Monday fixed the terms of reference of the committee set up to probe irregularities during the Commonwealth Games held 3-14 October in Delhi. It also added a member to the panel headed by V.K. Shunglu, former chairman of the Controller & Audit General (CAG).

The government, which has been facing criticism from the opposition over the issue, gave a free hand to the panel by allowing it to examine both international and national advisors, consultants and officials of the Organising Committee (OC). Suresh Kalamadi, chairman of the OC, is now expected to be questioned by the Shunglu panel early next month.

Shantanu Consul, secretary, department of personnel and training, will join the panel after his retirement on 31 October. The panel, which was set up two days after the event ended, will examine “planning and execution of development projects related to the Games and contracts for service delivery, with reference to time, cost and quality,” the PMO said in a press statement.

“Examination of weaknesses in management, alleged misappropriation, irregularities, wasteful expenditure and wrongdoing in the conduct of the Games, and, recommending action on the same. The issues relating to financing the Games, including estimates of revenue and expenditure,” the PMO said in a press statement.

“The committee would submit its report within three months and will decide its own procedures and mode of enquiry,” the statement added.

The panel main challenge would to be maintain better coordination among various agencies like the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), CAG, the Income Tax and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which are independently investigating many cases related to irregularities and corruption. Where as the country’s premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is yet to register a case in any of the allegations made against Organising Committee and others. The CBI is verifying more than 15 cases of corruption. “We will only register a case when the technical and financial audit by other agencies will be completed,” CBI director Ashwini Kumar said. Meanwhile DG Accounts and Audits will review home ministry expenditures made during the Games .According to senior government officials, on Tuesday personnel from DG Accounts and Audits would be shown files related to expenditure made by home ministry and Delhi Police for the Games. The home ministry and Delhi Police were provided a budget of nearly 375 crore to procure equipment and other security related expanses.